Side effects of treatment

Hi , I haven't been on Exemastane but have had Tamoxifen and Anastrazole 20 odd years ago and now on Letrozole. I think I became more tolerant of the side effects of the first two as time went on and my reactions to the Letrozole have not been so severe anyway. I understand that in most ladies you do become less severely affected as time goes on and hope you can tolerate them for a while longerand see if this happens for you. Wishing you all the best on your journey. Kwissy

Hi, I had my first zoladex injection with my 2nd cycle of chemo and the hot flushes and night sweats were intense. They were much worse after each chemo cycle and even now I notice they are worse with alcohol or stress or anything else that stresses my body, like the radiotherapy.

I am now on exemestane too and I didn't notice any significant increase in hot flushes / nightsweats.

I'm pleased to say that these are very manageable now, especially during the day and have significantly decreased in intensity, duration and frequency. I don't get too many and if I'm outside doing stuff I don't really get any. I notice them more when I'm working.

Night sweats have calmed down though I still get these every couple of hours. I use a chillax pillow to calm them down, push the covers off and I've just bought a fan. They are quite annoying but much better than they were.

I started zoladex in October and exemestane in March.

I was told that because you have a sudden menopause, then it is more intense but it will calm down. Apparently you get used to the exemestane after about 6 months. Although I didn't notice a difference in menopause symptoms, I do get very stiff and sore if I sit for too long but this eases off with activity and it hasn't stopped me doing anything.

I also take sage tablets which help with the flushes. I just had my final oncologist appointment and the BCN recommended sage without me even mentioning it. I had hormone positive BC.

A sudden medical menopause will be more intense than a natural one, but I like to think that the symptoms will last for less time as we have had our hormones switched off rather than in a state of flux for years! 

Thank you for your reply, I think I'm just having a moment of feeling sorry for myself!! 

When I first started the medication it wasn't too bad but I feel the flushes are more frequent and more intense.

I didn't have Chemo but I am on my 16th session of radiotherapy out of a total of 20 sessions.

Hopefully once I have radiotherapy maybe things will settle down.

Keep well xx

I found that my hot flushes were more intense about 2 months after starting zoladex, but I put that down to chemo - maybe there's something in that though? And I definitely found they were worse during radiotherapy, your body is being zapped with radiation after all. Anything that is a stressor makes them worse I find so still with it.

Have you tried anything to ease them? Fans, dressing in layers etc? Anything to help!

My night sweats are pretty much every 2 hours on the dot but if I can calm them down quickly, then I can get back to sleep. I've just started using a fan as well as the chillax pillow and that is helping. Haven't found anything to stop them yet, but they are much better than they were. At one point, I was getting flushes every 20 mins 24/7. It was not fun.

I do dress in layers but I am reluctant to peel off my layers as I'm body conscious! 

I have a fan and a chill pillow ... I love cool pillows at the best of times! 

I will perceive xx

Hi I’ve had zoladax for the last 6 years and after the rest of treatment finished I found that the side effects eased and tended to get more side effects when they changed my brand of tamoxifen. Now I am taking letrozole instead of tamoxifen and the hot flushes are pretty much gone again so definitely worth sticking with it. 

Thank you everyone  

I will look towards the light at the end of the tunnel or the rainbow   after the storm

Take care x

Hi I took exemestane for eight years; my choice as I kept asking to stay on it! For me side effects were minimal and it certainly kept the cancer away! 

Hi everyone, 

this is the first time I've posted so I'm just trying it out. I have been taking Tamoxifen for nearly 2 years. Mostly I just experience hot flushes which I find I can manage with taking off layers and using a fan and I have a wet flannel by the bed for the night

times and lots of trips to the cool bathroom. I'll leave it there for today. Take care.